How to prepare to start work after mat leave

DS is only bfing about 4-5 x per day now, hope to wean to twice or 3 times per day once I am back. I am a non-producer with the pump - tried valiently with my Medela PIS for about 3 months, and got practically nothing, so I have decided that I won't pump unless I am on call at work. Usually my hubby should be able to bring DS to work so I can bf in the evening,, so should not be too bad.

Not cosleeping most nights - just when he is sick or teething, then he sleeps with us sometimes. I just can't get a good sleep with him rolling around, pinching my boobs when he wakes up, etc... (little monkey!).DH is good with him, in all areas but what to feed him. I guess we'll have to get that figured out before we go.

We are also doing the transition week in daycare, though I seriously think we may be switching to nanny care (DH wants to try dc first but with me gone for such long hours, someone has to take care of the house too...). The meal stash is a good idea though.

I wish I could go back part time, but I don't have the option, because of the medical training program I am in (it is very full time). But, they are baby friendly (they should be, they are an OB unit!!), so nursing at work on call should not be a problem.

I think I am just more anxious than anything fo rthe unknown. I LOVED my time home with my son - I am not bored with being a SAHM. Quite frankly, if it did not mean giving up 9 years of post secondary education and a career in medicine (my mother would kill me), I would be very happy just being a SAHM full time until my kids are back in school. But, those are a bunch of non-realities.

Cav2--I am a CNM, so have a somewhat similar experience with the on call/gone overnight thing. As the PP mentioned, the first few weeks are HARD--possibly more so for you than your DS. I felt really, really sad being away from him at night at first--and I started doing that when he was about 11mo old. Having someone who can bring him to see you is huge. That is a point in favor of the nanny option. I started working again when he was 4mos, and my mom (who takes care of him often) would bring him to see me on my lunch breaks. I always thought we would wean from the lunches, but I really enjoy it and it is not such a long time to be gone from him that way, so even though he is almost 2, I think we'll keep doing it for a while!

I would love to work part-time, but can't right now since DH is in school and someone has to put food on the table, so that's my role now. I do occasionally have 60+ hour weeks, usually it's more like 44, but even that seems too long. Just keep an open mind, maybe there is a creative solution that will present itself to you that would create a bit more work/life balance.

Good luck! PM me if you have any questions!

I really don't have any advice that hasn't been mentioned. I just wanted to offer my thoughts and support. The first few days will be tough, there's no way around it, but this will be a great opportunity for your entire family!

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Oh my goodness, this is great advice!! I wish I would have done this!! I have occasionally run out of milk by the end of my 30 hour work week and this bums me out. Anyway, here are some more pieces of advice!
1. Try to get two pumps if you can afford it... maybe a friend has one you can use that she's not using anymore. Carting a pump back and forth is sort of the pits. I do it, but ride the bus to work and lugging it around is awkward!
2. Get two funnels for your pump (the things that go directly on your boobs). This way if you forget them at home, it isn't a big deal.
3. Start back gradually. One day, then two, then three. Starting on a Thursday or a Friday is also great, as mentioned above.
4. Figure out what your baby's feeding schedule is, or start tracking it if you haven't been. Then, pump at the times your baby normally eat. Pumping at the same times every day will make a difference in the amount of milk you get.
5. If your supply dips, try Fenugreek pills. It's an herb that increases milk production!
6. Work part time if possible!
7. Take the bus to work if possible. That way you can get more out of your day by using your commute time to work... ie, if you have a laptop, save your email to your hard drive before you leave the office and do it on your way home on the bus. You'll also spend less time commuting since busses get the use the carpool lanes!

Hope this helps!

Just a point in favor of nanny care-- I provided nanny care for a friend who was in a CNM program full time AND working part time with THREE KIDS under FOUR! She was gone long days, long weeks and her DH was starting a new practice and was also working long days. I agreed to help her out so I could be "SAH" with my daughter for longer. I was able to be consistent for the kids-- there when they got up, fed them meals at home, played with their neighbors, napped in their beds etc. Also, I helped with housework as I could and prepping for birthday parties, etc. I helped to institute some routines to make things smoother when life seemed pretty topsy-turvy for the kids. Great child care centers are great options, but can lead to tiring, long days for little ones. Nanny care lets them be at home and in their own environment. Good luck! It's got to be hard to juggle a residency and a baby! How nice you were able to take a year off! Very fortunate

Great advice. I would just add to not dwell on it before it happens. I was able to take three months off. About three weeks before I went back to work it hit me that it was time and I cried and cried and cried one night.

It was awful. The next morning I decided that was my pity party and I wouldn't feel bad for the rest of the three weeks, I would enjoy them as much as I could.

Once I got started back to work I let myself have pity parties but I planned when I would have them so I wouldn't feel overwhelmed. If I was having a bad morning I would make a mental note of the situation and what I was feeling and then when I got home I would take time to think about it, cry about it, whatever I needed.

Give yourself time to adjust. It is hard. Give your baby time to adjust.

Even after being back at work for almost two years it is still hard when I've been off work for a few days (vacations, holidays, etc.). Those Mondays are hard.

Best wishes and just know what a difference you are going to make for women who are starting the journey you are now on.